Social cohesion in Europe: How do the different dimensions of inequality affect social cohesion?

Abstract

This article examines the relationships between social cohesion and social inequalities in Europe by considering three interrelated issues. The first regards the definition and measurement of the concept of social cohesion. The second issue concerns the identification of the aspects of social inequality that affect the overall level of social cohesion. More precisely, I investigate two main hypotheses: the first argues the existence of a direct negative association between economic inequality and social cohesion. The second states that this relation is influenced by other aspects of social inequality such as the individuals' position in the stratification system and the educational level. The third issue introduces the comparative analysis that has been based on the welfare regime approach. More specifically, I hypothesize that welfare state is relevant because it influences both the relationship between social position and economic inequality, and the relationship between social cohesion and economic inequality. Data from the first round of the 2002 European Social Survey have been analysed applying structural equation models in order to measure social cohesion and to estimate the effects, both direct and indirect, exerted by the different dimensions of inequalities on social cohesion. Moreover, through a multi-group analysis, I investigate the effects resulting from the different welfare regimes. It emerges that social position and welfare state are not able to fully mediate the effect played by economic condition.

Welfare state regimes and the evolution of liberalism

“…Therefore, consideration of how the inclusion of more typical liberal welfare states (like the USA, Canada and Australia) might affect analyses like Vergolini's is important. The analysis in the present paper suggests, though, that several underpinnings of the dominant welfare state regimes theory may need to be reconsidered in order to fully understand how policies in "liberal" welfare states affect factors like those studied by Vergolini (2011). In essence, welfare state regimes theory may not be fully equipped to address the impact of the various forms of liberalism that could be emerging within welfare states.…”

“…For example, Vergolini (2011) examines the connections between social cohesion, social status and economic condition across welfare state regimes. To do this, Vergolini uses only one national example for the liberal state -UK, which is also typically a weak representative of the regime.…”

Democracy and the demand for government redistribution: A survey analysis

“…A public expenditure variable has therefore been included in the model. 8 Fifth, whereas the MR theory suggests that rising inequality at the aggregate level increases the demand for redistribution, 9 another strand of research has identified numerous -mostly detrimental -societal consequences of inequality, including political disinterest, poverty, polarisation, political instability, corruption and intolerance (see, e.g., Andersen 2012; Clark & D' Ambrosio 2013;Medgyesi 2013;Solt 2008;Vergolini 2011;You & Khagram 2005). These negative effects may persuade citizens to support government redistribution independently of their own level of income.…”

Does Diversity Erode Social Cohesion? Conceptual and Methodological Issues

“…Joseph Chan and his colleagues, on the other hand, define social cohesion as 'a state of affairs concerning both the vertical and the horizontal interactions among members of society as characterized by a set of attitudes and norms that includes trust, a sense of belonging and the willingness to participate and help, as well as their behavioral manifestations' (Chan et al, 2006, p. 290). A review of the various definitions proposed reveals that the approach to social cohesion differs not only between different scholars and disciplines but also according to context.Thus while in Canada, for example, the sense of belonging to the community is accentuated, in the European context social cohesion is understood as a process directed at social inclusion (Vergolini, 2011).To date, the sole consensual recognition is that social cohesion is a multidimensional concept.…”

“…Paul Dickes et al (2010), for example, developed a single index of social cohesion at the country level based on aggregate survey data from the European Values Survey.Although this includes scales that relate to social capital -such as voluntary participation -interpersonal trust was not included, while elements such as political engagement, confidence in institutions, satisfaction with democracy and solidarity with fellow country members were incorporated. A similar study was conducted by Loris Vergolini (2011), who employed the European Social Survey to measure social cohesion and included confidence in institutions, interpersonal trust and political and civic engagement but not solidarity. Other research has emphasized further aspects of social cohesion, such as the reciprocity and recognition of diversity itself or the existence of harmonized inter-ethnic relations, without summarizing these in a single index (Laurence, 2011).…”